I have been doing a lot of sanding this afternoon. Some of the areas that I am sanding are where realistically they will never see (underneath in this case). The question goes for sanding and for putting the finish on, do you spend as much time on those areas as the obvious ones? I usually do, am I obsessive?

-- Mother Nature created it, I just assemble it.

46 replies so far

I feel the same way Monte…I obsess about every minute detail regardless of if it is seen or not. I always have believed that each and every detail is most important and anything that is not given my complete and total attention would be the weak link in the chain. I can never fault anyone for doing the absolute best that they possibly can. NO shortcuts or cut corners…!

I learned a long time ago that I’m the only one that sees the faults I made. Since then, I sand the backsides to 150 or 180 while the face gets 220 or 400. Finish for the unseen is a bit iffy. If it’s going to see any moisture, like in a kitchen situation or on a an open porch, I’ll do a better job.

Anything that is likely to be felt and touched either in passing or in checking it out gets the presidential treatment, (As long as it’s a Republican president).

That’s right Dallas, anything that’s going to be seen and touched should be sent to fight an unpopular war based on lies and corruption so a bunch of billionaires can make more money, bought and paid for by the Koch brothers and Halliburton. There is a reason LJ stopped allowing discussion of politics in their forums.

-- There are three types of people in this world... those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what happened.

You are not obsessive, only a true craftsman. Look at store bought items, turn them over and see what you get. All you are doing is taking complete pride in your work. But then again thing about it, who is going to see it.

-- Dave, Downers Grove, Il. -------- When you run out of ideas, start building your dreams.

I tend to obsess. However if you ever get a chance to see some of the works of the greatest masters of furniture making, you may be surprised. A lot of the priceless pieces the backs are not even planed. It’s quite eye opening. They felt if you did not see it it did not matter.

Depends what it is. If it’s a piece of furniture that can be moved around and maybe seen, I’ll take care with all areas, except the bottom. If it’s gonna be attached where the bottom, top and back will never be seen again, I’ll not put much effort there. Difference for me Monte is that pretty much everything I do, I charge by the hour and figure they would rather not pay me for something they will never be able to appreciate. Someday maybe I’ll do more like you and actually sell stuff, then I’ll probably worry more about my product.

-- Bill M. I love my job as a firefighter, but nothing gives me the satisfaction of running my hand over a project that I have built and just finished sanding.